Senior goaltender Lucy Schoedel seems to have no problem with talking. Even her newest teammates have already taken notice.

‘What doesn’t she yell?’ freshman defender Erin Burns said.

That talkative quality has helped the Ithaca, N.Y., native become a leader on the Orange defense. She has been a fixture in the Syracuse crease since the program’s inception last year, starting every game SU (9-7-1, 4-2 College Hockey America) has played. Her efforts have contributed to her 2.40 goals against average and a .912 save percentage, both fourth-best in the CHA.

But numbers aside, Schoedel has taken to her role as a team captain. She leads through her play on the ice and with her communication.

‘She tells you where everyone is, tells you what options you have, tells you where the puck is, lets you know people coming off the bench,’ Burns said. ‘She’s very focused in the game. She knows what’s going on and she has the ability to communicate that.’

Schoedel started her college career at the University of New Hampshire. She played in just 11 games through her first two years as a Wildcat. The chance to start right away at a school closer to home made the decision to transfer to Syracuse easy.

She was one of the first players to commit to SU, after the Orange formed the program before last season. Head coach Paul Flanagan believes that she has taken that to heart, and she is motivated to become a leader on and off the ice. Whether it be hollering at girls in the locker room or barking orders at the back line during games, Schoedel isn’t afraid to speak her mind.

Schoedel has said many times this year that she feeds off the rest of the team’s play. When her teammates play better, she plays better.

‘It’s more fun. You play better when you’re having more fun,’ she said. ‘When I see them doing well in front of me, it’s more fun for me and I, in turn, play better.’

So far this season, the captain seems to be having a lot of fun.

In the Orange’s Nov. 29 contest against Union earlier this season, Schoedel made 20 saves and held the Dutchwomen to two goals. In the first period, as both teams fought to open the scoring, Schoedel stopped a shot with her shoulder, deflecting it high into the air. She nonchalantly stood up from her crouch, caught the puck and flipped it to the referee.

‘I think she’s very solid. …I think she does what she has to do to make saves,’ Flanagan said. ‘I like the fact that she’s not overly predictable, but solid enough fundamentally that she covers a lot of the net by being a really good positional goalie.’

The senior combines the style of a technically-sound butterfly goalie – a technique she uses to defend the net – with her athleticism. She understands how to take away angles and stay in position. But she can also be effective when play turns into a scramble in front of the net.

Senior captain Brittaney Maschmeyer has noticed that combination in Schoedel’s play.

‘Sometimes she just plays technical and other times she’s kind of doing the (New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin) Brodeur thing, all over the place,’ Maschmeyer said.

In the closing seconds of the Orange’s game against Wayne State last weekend, Schoedel had no choice but to do ‘the Brodeur thing’ to save a Syracuse win.

With two seconds left on the clock, the Warriors took advantage of pulling their goalie and found an unguarded forward just to the left of the SU crease. They dug the puck out of the corner and sent it across the mouth of the goal.

At first, Schoedel tried to slide over but realized she would not get there in time. As the Warrior forward redirected the puck on net, Schoedel whipped out her right leg in desperation. The puck deflected off of her skate and sailed wide of the goal, preserving the 3-2 Orange victory.

Her athleticism, understanding of the game and effective communication helped her become one of the Orange’s defensive leaders. She has the ability when she is on the ice to make the players around her better.

‘It makes everything so much easier because you come into it with nerves,’ Burns said. ‘Lucy’s a strong presence. She plays with confidence. If she believes in you, you start to believe in yourself.’

zjbrown@syr.edu

Published on December 9, 2009 at 12:00 pm